Comparison

app4sail lite vs Sailing Master M

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

app4sail lite

This nautical navigation application utilizes free S57 vector charts for charting. It provides essential navigation tools for mariners on iOS devices.

Highlights
  • S57 nautical vector charts
  • Free chart usage
  • Nautical navigation
  • iOS compatible
Features
Read full description

nautical navigation app. Uses free S57 nautical vector charts

About

Sailing Master M

This app provides comprehensive sailing data and performance optimization on various Apple devices. It displays over 35 sailing measurements from boat instruments, polars tables, and nautical charts, offering detailed wind, route, and map views. Connectivity is established through NMEA 0183 Wi-Fi gateways.

Highlights
  • Configurable data displays
  • 35+ sailing measurements
  • Wind, route, and map displays
  • NMEA 0183 Wi-Fi connectivity
  • Polars table integration
  • Nautical chart overlays
Features
Read full description

Sailing Master M offers comprehensive sailing data and performance optimization information on iPhones, iPads, iWatches, and ActiveLook smart glasses. The application provides configurable pages and data displays, utilizing over 35 sailing measurements from the boat’s instruments, polars tables, and nautical charts. On phones and pads, the Data and Analog Displays can include minimum and maximum values and time series graphs. The Wind Display provides wind, heading, route, and speed information. The Route Display shows the expected wind conditions on the next legs. The Map Display shows the vessel with direction, tacking and downwind laylines on a nautical chart, or the wind laylines in another location. The connectivity is through NMEA 0813 Wi-Fi gateways such as B&G Vulcan, Zeus, GoFree, Yacht Devices, Signal K, Actisense, and ShipModul. The application has evolved from its initial focus on NMEA data display to encompass a comprehensive suite of features. Consequently, the app’s name has been revised from 'Display0183M' to 'Sailing Master M'. For further information, please refer to the user’s guide available on the app’s website or within the app itself. Terms of use: The app is delivered under the Apple End User License Agreement (EULA, https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/) The following libraries and services are used: - Kitura/BlueSocket, published under the Apache 2.0 license - A modified version of GPX package, published under BSD 3-Clause License and copyrighted by Ioannis Silks - OpenStreetMap licensed under the Open Data Commons Open Database License (ODbL, https://opendatacommons.org/licenses/odbl/) by the OpenStreetMap Foundation Licence, and ©OpenStreetMap contributors. OpenSeaMap, which is licensed under the Open Data Commons (ODbL) license, and ©OpenSeaMap contributors The supported NMEA 0183 sentences are: - BWR: Bearing and distance to waypoint - DBS: Depth below surface - DBT: Depth below transducer. - DPT: depth of water. - CGA: Global Positioning System Fix data - GLL: Geographic position Latitude/Longitude - HDG: Heading magnetic - HDM: Heading magnetic - HDT: Heading true - MWD: undocumented, wind direction, wind speed - MTW: water temperature °C - MWV: Wind speed and angle (A,T) - RMB: XTE, range to destination, bearing to destination, destination closing velocity . - RMC: Speed over ground - RSA: Rudder sensor angle - VHW: Water speed and heading - VLW: Distance travelled through water - VPW: Speed - measured parallel to wind - VTG: Course over ground (T or M), speed over ground - VWR: Wind direction (A), wind speed (A) - WCV: Waypoint closure velocity - XDR: air temperature (°C), water temperature (°C) and barometric pressure (mbar). - XTE: Cross track error The data items from NMEA and polars are: - Waypoint bearing - Waypoint distance - Time to Waypoint - VMG waypoint - Cross track error - Depth - Heading - Heading - Course - Course - Water speed - Speed over ground - Water temperature - Air temperature - Air pressure - Wind speed apparent - Wind angle apparent - Wind speed true - Wind direction - Wind direction - VMG Wind - Latitude, Longitude - Waypoint laititude, longitude - Water Distance after reset - Total water distance - Ground distance after reset - Total ground distance - Velocity made good towards wind - Heel - Rudder - Boat target speed through the water - Boat speed of target speed (%) - Beat VMG boat target speed through the water - Run VMG boat target speed through the water - GPS based trip distance - Leeway

Screenshots

app4sail lite1 screens
Sailing Master M4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Sailing Master M at 5.0 against app4sail lite's 1.0. Sailing Master M also leads on update cadence (every 2 months vs every 4 months). app4sail lite's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Sailing Master M sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $11.99 per year. app4sail lite asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Sailing Master M holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

app4sail lite ships an update every 4 months, Sailing Master M every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 10, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
app4sail lite versus Sailing Master M: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
Parameterapp4sail liteSailing Master M
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings11
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsEvery 2 months — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS12.0 — better17
Further details — not scored
Size9 MB26 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developeranton van oostenPekka Leppanen

Customer experience

app4sail lite

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Sailing Master M

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

app4sail lite

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Sailing Master M

Subscriptions1
  • Pro annual14 Days trial$11.991 Year

Questions

Is app4sail lite free?
app4sail lite is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Sailing Master M free?
Sailing Master M is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, app4sail lite or Sailing Master M?
Sailing Master M is rated higher. app4sail lite averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Sailing Master M averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do app4sail lite or Sailing Master M have ads?
Neither app4sail lite nor Sailing Master M shows ads.
Which is updated more often, app4sail lite or Sailing Master M?
app4sail lite ships an update every 4 months, and Sailing Master M every 2 months. Most recently, app4sail lite was updated on September 10, 2026 and Sailing Master M on September 9, 2026.

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